Retired NYPD Detective in Court Over Fatal GWB Road Rage Shooting

Retired NYPD detective Victor Romero faces a manslaughter charge after fatally shooting ConEd worker Koran Irvine on the George Washington Bridge. The victim's family and union are pressing for a murder charge upgrade.

Retired detective due in court over fatal road rage shooting on George Washington Bridge

Retired NYPD detective Victor Romero is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday over the fatal shooting of Koran Irvine, 46, on the George Washington Bridge last month, cbsnews.com reports.

Irvine, a father and ConEd employee, was shot and killed on 20 October while driving home from work. According to police, a near collision on the bridge prompted Romero to aggressively tailgate Irvine, pull alongside his vehicle and fire a single fatal shot before driving away.

Romero was initially arrested on a murder charge, but when he appeared before a judge on Thursday the charge was reduced to first-degree manslaughter. Tuesday's hearing could bring word on whether a grand jury has indicted him.

Irvine's family is pressing prosecutors to reinstate the more serious charge. Frank Morales, president of the ConEd workers' union, sent a letter to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Friday urging him to pursue second-degree murder charges. Morales also called for Romero to remain in custody pending trial, insisting the former detective face the same level of prosecution as any other homicide suspect, regardless of his law enforcement background.

Union members and Irvine's family have scheduled a rally in Lower Manhattan at 4:30 p.m. to publicly press that demand.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)